Before practically every off-year election, I bet my co-worker Tim Botos that more people will turn out to vote than actually do.

In 2011, my Pollyanna optimism cost me a six-pack of Guinness.

My losing streak has taught me that you can't fight math with wishes.

I now concede that Mr. Smith might care about who goes to Washington but not necessarily who's in Columbus, or on the school board.

Though every election matters, it's a statistical fact that markedly fewer people participate in elections during the so-called "off" years.

Now comes word that there's even a growing reluctance among some people to remain in office.

Recent changes in the Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio make it more conducive for some in public service to retire sooner rather than later. For others, advancing age or a desire to have a personal life are spurring decisions to retire. As a result, fewer incumbents are facing opponents, which is unhealthy for any democracy because it undermines the very definition of democracy.

We must suppose it could be worse. We could have clueless but willing candidates such as Anthony Weiner or current Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who recently was caught smoking crack cocaine but who plans to run for re-election.

THE SPIN MACHINE

There also may be some less-pragmatic but equally compelling reasons for people scaling the wall to get back to civilian life.

In politics, criticism is a given, but increasingly, social media are throwing gasoline onto the fire. It's no longer enough to agree to disagree. If a candidate bites into the wrong end of a hot dog or throws a wayward opening-day pitch, it's posted online and spun into an indictment of his or her patriotism and moral character.

If a race is deemed important enough, candidates are followed around by political operatives and goaded into on-camera confrontations, which then are posted online as proof of their alleged prejudice, or sexism, or bad temperament.

Then there's the issue of finances. Running for office requires that you approach strangers and ask them for favors and money — the antithesis of everything your mother taught you.

WHY BOTHER?

Bottomless contributions by a handful of wealthy people have so poisoned the well, it's no wonder people don't think their vote counts.

But it does. No matter how much money is thrown at a race, it remains a matter of math: Whoever gets the most votes wins.

Some officeholders are retiring because there are easier ways to live than to endure stones thrown by an electorate that resents the necessity for a government but doesn't want to relinquish what government provides.

So why bother? Because, for all of its flaws, representative government is the only vehicle of self-determination. Because a government by the people, for the people, needs those people to make it work.

Page 2 of 2 - It is admittedly wishful thinking, but if elective office became less about personality and more about policy, more people might think it's worth the risk.